Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend offers free ticket to visit working farms

Sixteen farms across Northern Ireland will open their doors to the public for free this weekend as part of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend 2017.

Six new farms will open their doors to the public along with ten farms who have previously hosted Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend events. New farm hosts are Castlescreen Farm near Downpatrick who specialise in producing Dexter beef, Jamisons Potatoes in Ballycastle, Bullsbrook Farm in Dromore, Co Down, a social farm in Co Fermanagh, Foote Farm in Co Antrim and Drumrammer Farm, a dairy farm outside Ahoghill.

Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend Chairman and UFU President Barclay Bell said, “From Ballycastle to Portadown, Randalstown to Poyntzpass and from Garrison to Gilford, we have a wide range of farms opening up next weekend giving free access to the public. All our farmers have been working hard preparing their yards and arranging activities for the public to enjoy when they visit to learn more about our farming industry.

“In the light of Brexit, it is important that the public have a greater understanding of the work of one of our most important industries.”

On Saturday 17th June, 16 farms will be open whilst on Sunday 18th June, which is also Father’s Day, 13 farms will take part. Each farm event is unique and there is lots to see and do, with activities to keep children entertained and also learn more about where their food comes from. Visitors are asked to wear appropriate clothing and footwear to the farms that they visit and to also note that dogs are not permitted. There will be a free competition at each farm to win a hamper of local food produce for one lucky family to take home with them.

Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is delivered by Ulster Farmers’ Union and is sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK and supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, NFU Mutual and ASDA. The weekend would not be possible without the help and resources of Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, CAFRE, DAERA, the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, Food NI and the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.

The event, in its sixth year has attracted over 70,000 people throughout that time.

For more information, follow on Twitter @BOIopenfarm and like Open Farm Weekend on Facebook.

Photo Caption

Victor and Margaret Turtle of Drumrammer Farm, Ahoghill are opening their dairy farm for the first time with Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend. They are pictured with their daughter Megan (9), and Rose Crawford (4).